<p>Thanks for all the great ideas and all the encouragement too :)</p>
<p>A few more questions about the SAT 1 test.....
After my son and I discussed his plan of taking the SAT in Jan of junior year and then again in March (so we would be ready for ED) I started to wonder....will he have learned enough by then to even do well on his SAT's? I keep reading about the importance of taking the subject tests right after certain classes so that it will still be fresh in their minds, but in regards to the SAT - so soon after junior year starts, will he have "learned" enough to do well? Will he do better if he takes it a little later? Will he still have enough time to apply ED if he does?</p>
<p>I don't have a problem with getting this stuff done early and working your timetable, but just keep in mind that schools that offer ED now may eliminate the program by the time your son applies. They seem to be giving one year warning, so you will have to see which schools opt out over the next year.</p>
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After my son and I discussed his plan of taking the SAT in Jan of junior year and then again in March (so we would be ready for ED) I started to wonder....will he have learned enough by then to even do well on his SAT's? I keep reading about the importance of taking the subject tests right after certain classes so that it will still be fresh in their minds, but in regards to the SAT - so soon after junior year starts, will he have "learned" enough to do well? Will he do better if he takes it a little later? Will he still have enough time to apply ED if he does?
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<p>Your son needs to reserve one test date at the end of junior year -- either May or June -- for Subject Tests. He can use the other date to take the SAT a second time, instead of taking it in March, if he prefers. But I don't think that a couple of months in either direction makes much difference when it comes to the SAT.</p>
<p>Thanks Marian.
If he goes ahead and reserves a test date in May or June for the SAT, will that be too much for him if he is already scheduled for 4 or 5 AP exams at that time and 2 SAT subject tests as well? (He is planning on taking one subject test at the end of sophomore year) I was trying to think of a way that he would not have to do everything all at once. Our plan was for him to take the PSAT and the SAT beginning of junior year, take the SAT again in the spring and then finally all the AP tests and 2 subjects tests (this is assuming the college he picks needs that) at the end of the school year in May/June. My worry (one of many) was that with my wish of spreading out his required tests, he would be put in a positon where he would take the SAT too early in junior year before he has learned all the necesary material. I am assuming that the further along in school you are, (senior vs. junior) the more you will know. I don't know...
Thank goodness for all you moms and dads out there who advise me :)</p>
<p>Most schools that have early action/decision are accepting scores from the Oct. and even Nov. senior year SAT test dates, so don't worry about that. (Peek at the admissions websites of some schools he may be interested in to see what is the latest test date they can accommodate for EA/ED.) Jan. or Mar. sounds good for a first SAT I, June for SAT IIs (assuming May is AP test time and might be too much for SATs also, although I know kids who do both APs and SATs in May), and then Oct. for an SAT I retest if he feels he can improve.</p>
<p>Of the 20 excellent small LACs my son has looked at, only a handful require SAT IIs at all. Those few only ask for 2 and said they could be in any subject area he chose. So be prepared for more stringent requirements, but they may not be necessary.</p>
<p>Also, My son took PSAT, ACT, SAT I and 2 SAT IIs once apiece. He's a good tester though. So it's good to be prepared for anything, but things could turn out easier in the end.</p>
<p>Don't have him take SATs in both January and March. Pick one or the other, with a retake in May or October. Take a look at the school calendar - January's SAT may be right on top of semester exams. The March test date is near spring break, which may work better for him.</p>
<p>Marian -- Thanks! We are getting to the point where all DS1's hard work is starting to pay off, and I would like for <em>all</em> of us to enjoy it!</p>
<p>DS1 will probably do SAT-I (first time) in April of junior year -- just before spring break, and far enough ahead of AP exams that they don't run on top of each other. If he needs another shot at the SAT-I, he can do it in October of senior year (though avoiding taking it again while doing college and Intel apps is a powerful motivator to prepare well the first time). SAT-II WH will probably be in June; after AP, but during finals. Physics or Chem -- probably March. </p>
<p>My personal feeling is that if you can schedule SAT-IIs individually, it probably helps the scores. It's a pain to allocate another Saturday morning to the process, but it allows for single-minded focus on one subject area. If you feel like you blew the first test, it will likely affect your mental outlook on the second one. This is why DS1 has tried not to take APs where he'd have two exams in one day.</p>
<p>SAT-I is far less about learning material for the test as it is learning the <em>format</em> and types of questions. Best "studying" for the CR part is to read widely -- scientific articles, general interest, poetry, literature of different periods and genres. DS1 will self-study everything using a couple of test-prep books; it's a good use of those bookstore gift cards! :*)</p>
<p>DS1 has not decided if it's wise for him to apply ED, but either way, this timetable seems workable for him.</p>
<p>Another thing on Math SAT-II -- the curve on Math Level II is far more generous than on Level 1. Level II tests more advanced skills, but it is easier to make a high score. A test taker can miss 7-8 questions on the Level II and still get an 800 (depends on the actual curve for the test version used, but you get my point). If your son is already taking pre-calc as a soph and is doing well, <em>definitely</em> do Level II.</p>
<p>Physics and Chemistry SAT-IIs also have fairly generous curves; Bio, the least so. If I recall, your son is taking AP Enviro this year -- if he's taking that and has taken regular Bio already, he should be well prepared for Bio E or M. One of my son's friends who took Bio M said the tests are identical, excpet for ~10 Qs that are specific to E or M.</p>
<p>Thanks for SAT II info, it looks like even with taking subject tests you need to find a good "match". Alot of you have suggested that my son take the regular SAT once junior year (in the spring?) and again senior year in the fall (October?) will this leave him enough time to still apply ED by November 1st deadline? I believe someone said that the test results could be sent in later?Should he not check off the box where they automatically send the results to the college in case he didn't do better the second time around?</p>
<p>"If he goes ahead and reserves a test date in May or June for the SAT, will that be too much for him if he is already scheduled for 4 or 5 AP exams at that time and 2 SAT subject tests as well?"</p>
<p>I don't think it makes much difference. You just go into - it's yet another test mode. My son took the SAT1 in May right after taking a bunch of APs. Most of his friends took the SAT2s then with the advantage of AP review. The only reason mine didn't was that he knew he was going to have to learn a bunch of physics that wasn't included in his AP Physics course. It also helped that he was still reviewing American History in June for the Regents test so he was in good shape there - didn't have a month to forget US history! He forgot to take Math2 when he should have but we didn't find it hurt to have waited the extra year. (He took it after Calculus instead of Pre-calc.) The whole point of taking APs and SAT2s back to back is you can usually do almost no extra studying for the SAT2s.</p>
<p>" My personal feeling is that if you can schedule SAT-IIs individually, it probably helps the scores."</p>
<p>I think this really depends on the kid. Mine did all three at once and was very happy to have it over with when the scores came back and it was clear he would never have to take them again. :)</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you moms and dads for all your great advice!!!!</p>
<p>I think we're ready now. Did I really say that with a straight face?!? Seriously, we have some great info here and I'm sure that it will guide us down a much smoother path than if we had to struggle on our own without all your great insight.
Thank you. :)</p>